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Parish Pilgrimage on Foot
August 6 @ 8:30 am – August 9 @ 5:30 pm
Join fellow parishioners on a spiritual journey from St. John the Evangelist Parish to the Cathedral of St. Thomas More.
“A pilgrimage on foot is a great aid for rediscovering the value of silence, effort and simplicity of life…”
— Pope Francis
ITINERARY
- Aug 6: St. Katharine Drexel
- Aug 7: Corpus Christi
- Aug 8: St. Leo the Great
- Aug 9: Cathedral of St. Thomas More
RETREAT COMPONENTS
Daily Mass ● Eucharistic Adoration ● Confession ● Reflections ● Talks
Join for the whole pilgrimage or just a day!
Can’t do the whole route? Walk the final 13 miles on Saturday from St. Leo to the Cathedral. Lodging and camping options are available along the way, or you may return home each night.
Contact Fr. Nicholas to learn more or to sign up: [email protected]
Questions You Might Be Asking…
Wait a minute. Did you say walk from Warrenton to Arlington?
That’s right! Pope Francis especially encouraged making a pilgrimage on foot during this Jubilee Year.
Sounds like a European idea. Is it legal to walk along roads here? Is it safe?
Yes, it’s legal! According to the Code of VA, pedestrians may use roadways when there are no sidewalks, keeping to the extreme left side or edge of the hard surface (§ 46.2-928).
For safety, our route will mostly consist of quiet country roads, gravel roads, and sidewalks. There are a few stretches on busy two-lane roads with little shoulder, which will be clearly marked on the map for your attention and special caution. It is strongly recommended that pilgrims wear bright vests and pay careful attention to approaching cars.
A walking pilgrimage in August? The hottest month of the year?
Extra penance, and it allows students and teachers to participate before beginning the new academic year.
How long are the stages?
- St. John the Evangelist to St. Katharine Drexel: 19.0 miles
- St. Katharine Drexel to Corpus Christi: 9.7 miles
- Corpus Christi to St. Leo the Great: 20.2 miles
- St. Leo the Great to Cathedral of St. Thomas More: 13.7 miles
I can’t join for the entire pilgrimage, but I’d like to be a part of this.
Wonderful! One of the reasons for the maps and daily schedule of events is that people can join for as much or as little as they’d like. Want to walk the first and second days, work Friday, and rejoin for Saturday? I can’t afford to miss three workdays, but could you make Friday and Saturday work? Looking for a shorter day of walking (Thursday to Corpus Christi!), something younger legs can manage? This is a “choose your own adventure” pilgrimage.
Will there be a trained medic or support crew for the pilgrims?
No, the walkers are “on their own” and responsible for their safety and support. Thankfully, except for the first long day, we will pass near grocery stores and other convenience stores on our route. Carry enough food and water for the day and have an emergency contact. If there is a true medical emergency, call 9-1-1. And highly recommended: walk with a buddy! This is an excellent safety precaution, and you can share a First Aid kit, encourage one another, and pray together.
Where will we be staying?
I’m still working on this. We hope to have the option of staying at the parishes we visit, either camping in an adjacent field or setting up a sleeping pad and bag in a hall/gymnasium. Alternatively, parishioners of these parishes might open their homes to us, offering us a meal and a more comfortable place to shower and sleep. As a last resort, you are welcome to find a ride back to your home each night, returning in the morning; we’ll never be very far from Warrenton.
So Father Nicholas is leading this pilgrimage?
Well, not exactly…. Father will be making the pilgrimage on foot himself and will offer Mass, Confession, meditations, Eucharistic Adoration, etc. at the parishes along the way. He will provide a map with a recommended walking route, along with a schedule of daily events (see below). He is not “leading” a large group of walking pilgrims along the road. Pilgrims are welcome to walk at their own pace and are responsible for their safety.
By the way, parishioners who cannot join the walking pilgrimage are still welcome to pray with us at our stops along the way!
What should I pack?
A sleeping bag (and pad for comfort—we might be on a gym floor), second pair of shoes/sandals, plenty of water (at least 2 liters), snacks/food for the day, towel and change of clothes.
Let’s talk about food…
It might be that parishioners host us for dinner and breakfast along the way. Or the Knights of Columbus provide meals at their parish halls. If these options don’t materialize, we’ll depend on our families and friends’ generosity to either bring us food or pick us up and take us out. You should pack enough food for walking Stages 1 and 2 (though the 2nd day begins at a convenience store, if you’d like). Stages 3 and 4 pass many grocery stores, so stocking up for daily needs will be possible mid-route.
Can I drive to the Cathedral?
Absolutely. Truly, there is no shame in that; you’re still making a pilgrimage! Join the pilgrims at the Cathedral for the closing Mass at 4:30 pm on Saturday, August 9th. Or better: join for the final day of walking, from St. Leo to the Cathedral!
This is a great idea, but I’m not up for making this walk. How can I help?
Thanks for asking! Contact Father Nicholas. You might provide dinner to our pilgrims at night or shuttle pilgrims home in a pinch.
How do I get home from the Cathedral on Saturday evening?
Invite your family or a friend to join you for Mass and a celebratory dinner! They’ll be your ride home, too.
Draft Schedule
- Wednesday, August 6
- 8:30 am (parish) Mass at SJE
- Evening Prayer and Meditation 1 at SKD
- Thursday, August 7
- Morning Prayer and (private) Mass at SKD
- Eucharistic Holy Hour and Meditation 2 at CC
- Friday, August 8
- Adoration and (parish) Mass at CC
- EP and Meditation 3 at St. Leo
- Saturday, August 9
- 10:00am Rosary and Meditation 4 at St. Leo (more pilgrims join us!)
- 3:00pm Confession at Cathedral
- 4:30pm (parish) Mass at Cathedral